We the People… and the Dogs 🐾

A Constitution for Both Ends of the Leash

Yesterday was Constitution Day.

And while looking into it, I realized something I somehow hadn’t thought much about before:

Constitution Day isn’t the end of the celebration. It’s the beginning of Constitution Week.

Constitution Week runs September 17 through September 23, giving us a little more time to remember the document signed in Philadelphia in 1787 and the people who helped create it.

Naturally, my brain immediately went somewhere else.

Dogs!!!!

Because apparently, I can’t leave well enough alone. 😂

And then I thought:

What if we created a Constitution for people and their dogs?

Not a political document. Not something we’re going to spend the next 239 years arguing over.

Just something fun, lighthearted and built around the things I think most of us can agree our dogs deserve:

Movement

Safety

Patience

Rest

Adventure

And a human who remembers there are two ends of that leash.

And there’s a wonderful historical dog connection here.

George Washington wasn’t simply around during the creation of the Constitution—he presided over the Constitutional Convention itself.

He was also a serious dog lover.

Records from Mount Vernon tell us about many of Washington’s dogs, especially his hounds, with names including Sweetlips, Tipsy, Mopsey, Truelove, Ragman and Vulcan. He even inspected his kennels morning and evening.

So I have a feeling General Washington might at least appreciate what we’re about to do.

Maybe!!🐾🐾

THE WALK • RUN • PULL CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

We the People…and the Dogs, in order to form a more perfect walking, running and canicross partnership; establish communication; ensure domestic tail-wagging; provide for the common safety; promote healthy movement; and secure the blessings of muddy paws, happy miles and adventures together—do hereby establish this Walk • Run • Pull Constitution.

ARTICLE I — THE RIGHT TO WALK

Every human-and-dog team shall begin with the foundation:

Learn to walk together.

Not necessarily in a perfect heel.

Instead, learn loose-leash movement, comfortable positioning, pace, communication and how each member of the team responds to the world around them.

Before you can run together, you need to know how to move together.

ARTICLE II — THE FREEDOM TO RUN

When walking together becomes comfortable, the team may choose to progress running.

Running with your dog is its own activity.

It is not automatically canicross.

Learn each other’s pace. Learn where your dog naturally runs. Learn how to start, slow down, turn and stop together.

And remember:

Your mileage goal never outranks your running partner.

ARTICLE III — THE RIGHT NOT TO PULL

No dog is required to become a canicross dog.

No human is required to become a canicross runner.

Walking may be your thing.

Running may be your thing.

Or you may decide together that you want to explore canicross.

Canicross is an option—not a graduation requirement.

ARTICLE IV — THE RIGHT TO PULL

If human and dog choose canicross, the partnership changes.

Your dog is now working out front and pulling into appropriate equipment as part of a dog-powered running team.

That means another level of conditioning, communication and teamwork.

ARTICLE V — THE TRAIL CLAUSE

Trails shall be respected.

For trails contain:

Roots, Rocks, Uneven ground, Stumps, Turns, Hills, Descents

…and inevitably that one thing neither of you noticed until approximately half a second before reaching it.

The human needs to understand how the dog moves.

The dog needs to understand how the human moves.

Because you’re no longer simply two individuals traveling in the same direction.

You’re a team.

ARTICLE VI — THE SAFETY CLAUSE

Speed and distance shall never take precedence over safety.

Conditioning, equipment, hydration, weather, terrain, age, health and recovery all matter.

The goal isn’t merely reaching the end of the trail.

The goal is getting both ends of the leash home healthy.

ARTICLE VII — THE TEAMWORK CLAUSE

There shall be no dictatorship at either end of the leash.

The human provides guidance.

The dog provides information.

Both communicate.

Both adapt.

Both learn.

Both matter.

THE BILL OF PAW-RIGHTS 🐾

Every dog shall have the right:

I. To learn before being expected to perform.

II. To progress gradually.

III. To have equipment that fits properly.

IV. To stop when something hurts.

V. To have water, recovery and rest.

VI. To enjoy walking without ever becoming a runner.

VII. To enjoy running without ever becoming a canicross dog.

VIII. To stop and sniff occasionally—because apparently some things are extremely important.

IX. To communicate without immediately being labeled stubborn.

X. To have a human who remembers that the journey belongs to both ends of the leash.

RATIFICATION

This Constitution shall become effective upon the first:

“Want to go for a walk?”

followed by uncontrollable tail wagging.

Signed during Constitution Week,

Have a happy and healthy tail wagging day,

Pamela and Freedom

The Human & Hound of Doggone Healthy Choices